Binary-decade counter



6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. H. DICKINSON BINARY-DECADE COUNTER TIP/66551;

Dec. 4, 1951 Filed Jan. 21, 1949 INPUT Pl/ZSfS INVENTCR ARTHUR H. DICKINSON EW AGENT Dec. 4, 1951 A. H. DICKINSON BINARY-DECADE COUNTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1949 Rm K m .g w E W w W m M Q NM R Q BU Y B QM Q \w J 2 8T w 9 WAN \w 3 mm d l" x 3% 3i E 3H m m J. v fix R Z N, N H ws w [I B Q E x R H WW m HWM V .i HM J AGQ E I f W Aw M HM m H Q Q @w K {w SD56 mv m w m m. w Q R w @L E w wl w {3 m \& ES g 0 AGENT Dec. 4, 1951 A. H. DICKINSON BINARY-DECADE COUNTER e Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 21, 1949 Dec. 4, 1951 A. H. DICKINSON BINARY-DECADE COUNTER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21; 1949 0 0000000110 0 i C 000111101 6 1 H INPUT PI/LYS INPUT 00001111 110 MM A -C11000011110 M 7" 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 A. H. DICKINSON BINARY-DECADE COUNTER Dec. 4, 1951 Filed Jan. 21, 1949 M m m Oll- -q MM .n M m m ww R as QM W wk- N M. NM 1* m $0 03%; QQNN hh- 5 Nb R is LM? r. B r... mm HM 7 g Q a, m w w m h w mm m5 & .w Q K 92 Patented Dec. 4, 1951 BINARY-DECADE COUNTER Arthur H. Dickinson, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,796

Claims. I

This invention relates to electronic counters and more particularly to a decade counter comprising a series chain of trigger circuits each having two stable conditions.

In such counters various arrangements of feedback pulses and tube blocking have been employed to convert from the binary system of counting to the decade system of counting. Such arrangements are inherently disadvantageous in that critical voltage adjustments are required to prevent or suppress the ordinary switching of certain triggers from one stable condition to the other.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a decade counter from a series chain of triggers wherein the above disadvantages are eliminated.

Another object is to provide a novel circuit arrangement for converting a binary counter into a decade counter wherein the conversion circuit is inoperative except when actually effecting the conversion to decade operation.

Another object is to provide means for converting a binary counter to a decade counter wherein tubes are energized cyclically by the counter to effect a switching of the stable condition of a plurality of triggers and no priming or conditioning of said tubes is required.

A further object is to provide a novel circuit arrangement for converting a binary counter to a decade counter wherein the counter itself energizes a circu t which effects the conversion by applying a voltage pulse, independent of the voltage relationships of said counter, to the control grids of preselected tubes of the counter.

A still further object is to provide means for converting a binary counter to a decade counter wherein sa d means is independent of the voltage relationships of the counter and cyclically initiated by the counter operation.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following descrption and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an electronic counting circuit illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1a is a chart showing the stable condition of the component parts of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 during a cycle of operation;

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2a is a chart showing the stable condition of the component parts of the embodment shown in Fig. 2 during a cycle of operation.

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3a is a chart show ng the stable condition of the component parts of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 during a cycle of operation;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a further embodiment of the invention; and,

Fig. 4a is a chart showing the stable condition of the component parts of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 during a cycle of operation.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, this embodiment of the novel counter comprises four trigger circuits A, B, C and D connected in cascade and shown for simplic ty of illustration in the drawing as divided by broken vertcal lines. Tubes lil, H and I2 and their associated circuits are provided as means for effecting a change in the stable condition of the counter. Each of the triggers A, B, C and D includes two grid controlled tubes de ignated Al and A2, BI and B2, Cl and C2, and DI and D2, respectively. The tubes used are all of the same type and may, for examp e, be of the type having two tubes in a single envelope such as the 12SN'7 type tube, or if de ired all tubes may be of the type having a single tube in an envelope.

Each trigger circuit A to D has two stable conditions which are assumed alternately, in one of wh ch one tube is conductive and the other tube non-conductive and in the other condition the tubes have the reverse conductive conditions. These conditions are referred to herein as on" and 01f.

The off condition is a sumed when the lefthand tube (Al, for examp e, of the trigger A) is conductive and the ri ht-hand tube (A2) is nonconductive. The on condition is assumed when the right-hand tube is conductive and the lefthand tube is non-conductive.

In the in tial or zero starting position of the counter o Fig. 1 each of the tri gers A to D is in the off condition. T e switching of any subsequent trigger from either con ition to the other occurs when a negati e n lse is appl ed simultaneou ly to the control grid of its tubes. Such negative p lses mav be ap ied from an out ide source or from a trig er rior to it in t e series chain. The tri g r circuts are arranged so that the tubes of the triggers are non-responsive to positive pulses of equal amplitude to that of the negative pulses when the positive pulses are applied to the triggers as the negative pulses are applied. However, the trggers are responsive to positive pulses from the tubes H and 12 when those pulses are applied directly to the control grid of one tube of the trigger.

The arrangement and normal operation of the trigger circuit A will be de cribed with reference to the values of applied voltage and the values of res-stances and capacitances employed therein. These and other values are given hereinafter solely for the purpose of clarifying the explanation and it is to be specifically understood that they may be varied considerably without departing from the principles of the invent on. The actual values are determined, among other things, by the upper and lower speeds of the entries to be counted.

The cathode l3 of tubes Al and A2 is connected to a zero volt line Hi and plates are connected to a +150 volt line it, the plate of Al being connected thereto through resistors l? and IS in series and the plate of A2 through a resistor E9, the combined value of the resistors ll and l8 being equal to that of the resistor I9. Resistors ll, l8 and 553 are of 10,000 ohms, 10,000 ohms and 20,000 ohms, respectively. A lead connects the plate of the tube A2 to the upper end of a voltage divider consisting of resistors 2! and 22, each of 200,000 ohms. The lower end of the divider is connected to a 100 volt cancel bias line A capacitor 24 of 0.0001 microfarads shunts the resistor 2i.

Similarly a lead connects the plate of the tube Al to the upper end of a voltage divider consisting of resistors 20 and El, each of 200,000 ohms. The lower end of the divider is connected to a -100 volt bias line 28. As shown the cancel bias line 23 has a potential of 100 volts on it only when a cancel bias switch, CBS, joining the lines and is closed. A capacitor 29 of 0.0001 microfarads shunts the resistor 26.

Input terminal 3c is connected to a suitable source (not shown) of entries to be counted. These entries may comprise a series of negative pulses having characteristics suitable to eiTect a switching of the trigger circuit A. These negative pulses are applied via a lead 3! to the control grids of the tubes Al and A2 through capacitors 32 and 33. respectively, each of 0.0001 microfarads. A trigger output lead 34 is connected at one end to a point 35 intermediate the load resistors l! and iii and at its other end to the input coupling capacitors 3?. and 33 connected to the control grids of the tubes Bl and B2. respectively. The transfer of negative pulses from the trig er A over the lead 34 controls trigger B, i. e. determines whether B is inthe off" or on condition.

Since tr gger A is in the off condition at the zero or starting position, the tube A2 is biased to cutoff by the well-known action resulting from the conduction of the tube Al. triggers B, C and D are also in the ct? condition at the zero or starting time. The control grids of the tubes Al, Bl, Cl and DI are connected to the cancel bias line 23, which provides for ouick reset ing to the preselected zero or starting condition given above.

To reset the circuit to the preselected starting condition the cancel bias line 23 is disconnected from its 1fi0 volt supply, for example, by the open ng of the switch CBS. When the switch CBS is opened the grid bias voltage applied to the tubes Al, Bl, Cl and DI rises above the cutoff value and these tubes are rendered conductive irrespective of their condition immediately prior to the time when the switch CBS was opened.

A similar cancel bias system is provided for each embodiment of the invention and in each case the purpose served is the same, the particular changes being in the connections between the particular control grids of the chosen tubes and the cancel bias line, to determine different preselected starting conditions of the respective trigger circuits.

It should be observed that the tubes having their control grids connected to the cancel bias line 23 are conductive when the counter is in the zero or preselected starting position. The re-closing of the switch CBS does not remove the positive bias on the selected tubes but per- As stated the '1 rendered non-conductive.

- connected resistor 26 and capacitor 29.

mits'them to remain conductive until an entry changes the stable condition of the trigger. For example when switch CBS is re-elosed the control grid of the tube Al is placed at a potential determined by the voltage divider comprising resistors l9, 2! and 22 connected between the lines l6 and 23 and is greater than the voltage required to render the tube Al conductive.

When the first negative pulse is applied to the control grids of the tubes Al and A2 it has no direct effect on A2 since its control grid is already biased below cutoff. But, the first negative pulse causes the control grid of Al to be biased below cutoff and the tube Al is thereupon The plate voltage of the tube Al then rises toward that of the line IS. The increased voltage at the plate of the tube A! is transferred from its plate to the con trol grid of the tube A2 through the parallel As a result, the control grid of the tube A2 is made sufliciently positive to render the tube A2 conductive. Because of this conduction the voltage at the plate of the tube A2 decreases. The decreased voltage is transferred to the control grid of the tube Al through the parallel connected resistor 2| and capacitor 25 and maintains the tube Al non-conductive. The tube Al remains non-conductive and the tube A2 conductive until the next negative pulse is applied to the control grids of the trigger A. It is now obvious that the first negative pulse switches trigger A. as a whole, from the on? condition to the on condition, the OE condition, as set forth above, having been assumed as tube Al conductive and tube A2 non-conductive.

In a similar manner, the arrival of the second negative pulse renders the tube A2 non-conductive and the resulting rise in its plate voltage is transferred to the control grid of the tube Al to permit that tube to become conductive and thereby hold the tube A2 in a non-conductive state, also the decrease in the plate voltage of the tube Al caused by its conduction is transferred to the control grid of the tube AZ. It is to be particularly noted that this decrease in the plate voltage of the tube Al is also transferred to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2 via the output lead 36. This decrease, as explained for the trigger A, impressed simultaneously on the control grid of the conducting tube BI and on the control grid of the non-conducting tube B2 causes the tube Bl to become non-conductive and the tube B2 to become conductive thereby placing the trigger circuit B in the on condition.

Now, that the cycle of trigger operation is understood, a description of the construction and operation of the novel counter will be undertaken.

The output of the trig er B is applied to the control grids of the trigger C and the output of the trigger C is applied to the control grids of the trigger D, in each instance the connection between triggers is identical with that between. the triggers A and B. The output lead 38 from the trigger D is connected to an output terminal. the output of the counter appearing between the terminal 3? and the zero volt line [4.

The plate of the tube C2 is connected to the 40 Of 500,000 ohms.

250,000 ohms to the volt line 28. The plate of the tube [0 is connected to the volt line I6 through a resistor 42 of 50,000 ohms and the cathode is connected to the l00 volt line 28 through a lead 43.

The tubes II and I2 each have their control grid connected to their plate and are therefore operated as diodes. The plates of the tubes II and I2 are connected to the plate of the tube I0 through a lead 44. The cathode of the tube II is connected to the control grid of the tube B2 through a lead 45 and the cathode of the tube I2 is connected to the control grid of the tube A2 through a lead 46.

The tube I0 is normally conductive and its plate voltage is low, this voltage is transferred to the plates of the tubes I I and I2 over the lead 49 and is insufficient to allow them to conduct. This is so because the voltage applied to the plates of the tubes II and I2 which is the voltage present at the plate of the tube It! is less than the voltage drop across the resistors 21 connected to the control grids of the tubes A2 and B2.

The description of one complete cycle of counter operation will be undertaken jointly in connection with the circuit diagram of Fig. 1 and the chart of Fig. la wherein X indicates conduction of the tubes I0, II and I2 and the on condition of the triggers A, B, C and D and 0 indicates non-conduction of the tubes I0, II and I2 and the off condition of the triggers A, B, C and D. These designations are employed throughout the specification.

As used herein a dot at the lower left side or the lower right side of a tube indicates that the adjacent tube section is conductive when the counter is in the zero or starting condition.

Fig. 1a illustrates that all triggers are in the on condition, the tube I0 conductive and the tubes I I and I2 non-conductive when the counter is in the zero or starting condition.

As explained previously, the first input pulse causes the trigger A to switch on and the second input pulse causes the trigger A to switch off, this second switching of the trigger A causes the trigger B to switch on.

The third pulse applied to the input terminal 30 causes the trigger A to switch on. This switching of the trigger A has no effect on the stable condition of the trigger B since it is a positive pulse that is transferred from the plate of the non-conducting tube AI over the lead 34 and the capacitors 32 and 33 to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2.

The fourth pulse applied to the input terminal 30 causes the trigger A to switch off. As a result a negative pulse is transferred over the lead 34 to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2 thereby causing the trigger B to switch off. When the trigger B switches off, a negative pulse is transferred from the plate circuit of the conducting tube BI over the lead 34 and the capacitor 32 and 33, respectively, to the control grids of the tubes CI and C2 to switch the trigger C to the on condition.

When the trigger C switches on, a negative pulse of sufficient value to render the tube I0 non-conductive is developed across the resistor 4|. This pulse is thus applied to the control grid of the tube I0 and renders it non-conductive'for the duration of the pulse. The resulting increased voltage at the plate of the tube I0 is transferred to the plates of the tubes II and I2 through the lead 44. The tubes II and I2 are thus rendered conductive and current flows from the +150 volt line I6 through the resistor 42,

a lead 41, the lead 44, the tubes II and I2 and the leads 45 and 46, respectively, and the resistors 21 connected to the control grids of the tubes A2 and B2 to the volt line 28.

The increased voltage drop across the resistors 21 caused by the current flow renders the control grids of the non-conductive tubes A2 and B2 sufficiently positive to initiate the switching of the triggers. As a result the triggers A and B are switched from the off to the on condition. The switching of the triggers A and B is equivalent to applying three pulses to be counted to the input terminal 30.

When the effect of the pulse rendering the tube I0 non-conductive is ended, that tube returns to the conductive state. The decreased voltage at its plate is transferred to the plates of the tubes II and I2 to render them non-conductive.

The fifth pulse applied to the input terminal 30 causes the trigger A to switch to the off condition. When the trigger A switches off, a negative pulse is transferred through the lead 34 and capacitors 32 and 33, respectively, to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2 to switch the trigger B off. In a like manner, a negative pulse is transferred from the plate circuit of the tube BI to the control grids of the tubes CI and C2 to switch the trigger C off. The switching of the trigger C causes a negative pulse to be transferred to the control grids of the trigger D and thereby switch it on. When trigger D switches on, a positive pulse is transferred over the lead 36 to the output terminal 31.

The sixth pulse applied to the input terminal 36 causes the trigger A to switch from the off to the on condition. As a result a positive pulse is transferred from the plate circuit of the tube AI through the lead 34 and capacitors 32 and 33, respectively, to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2 and, for the reasons explained hereinbefore, has no effect on the stable condition of the trigger B.

The seventh pulse applied to the input ter minal 30 causes the trigger A to switch from the on" to the off condition. A negative .pulse is transferred to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2 and switches the trigger B from the "off to the "on condition. As a result, a positive pulse is transferred to the control grids of the tubes CI and C2 and is ineffective to switch the stable condition of the trigger C.

The eighth negative pulse applied to the input terminal 30 switches the trigger A from th off to the "on condition.

The ninth negative pulse applied to the input terminal 30 switches the trigger A off. The resulting negative pulse in the plate circuit of the tube AI is transferred to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2 and switches the trigger B off. When the trigger B switches off, the negative pulse in the plate circuit of the tube BI is transferred to the control grids of the tubes CI and C2 and switches the trigger C on.

When the trigger C switches on, a decreased voltage appears at the plate of the conductive tube C2. Again, this decreased voltage is transferred to the control grid of the tube I0 and renders that tube non-conductive. As explained hereinbefore, this non-conduction of the tube I0 renders the tubes I I and I2 conductive and effects a switching of the triggers A and B to the on" condition. When the effect of the pulse from the .plate circuit of the tube C2 has ended the tube ['0 again becomes conductive and the tubes H and I2 non-conductive.

This switching of the triggers A and B, as that following the fourth pulse to be counted, effectively advances the operational cycle of the counter by a count of three. Hence, before the tenth pulse to be counted has been received the operational cycle of the counter has been advanced by a count of six. This adding of counts by the switching of triggers in response to the tubes II and I2 is referred to hereinafter as the production of or addition of artificial counts in the counter. It can thus be seen that each trigger circuit is employed as a counting element.

The tenth pulse applied to the input terminal 30 switches trigger A from the on to the off condition. This switching of trigger A causes a negative pulse to be transferred from the plate circuit of the tube A to the control grids of the tubes BI and B2 to switch the trigger B from the on to the off condition. In a like manner, the switching of trigger B causes a negative pulse to be transferred to the control grids of the tubes Cl and C2 to switch the trigger C from the on to the off condition and the switching of the trigger C causes a negative pulse to be transferred to the control grids of the tubes D! and D2 to switch the trigger D from the on to the off condition. When the trigger D switches off, a negative pulse is transferred from the plate circuit of the conducting tube D! to the output terminal 31.

The counter is now in the zero or starting condition and the application of pulses to the input terminal 30 causes the above described cycle of operation to be repeated and a negative pulse to appear at the terminal 3'! in response to each tenth pulse applied to the terminal 36.

Referring to Fig. 2, this embodiment of the counter comprises exactly the same circuit as shown in Fig. 1 except for the voltage bias connections to the control grids of the tubes of the triggers A, B, C, and D. The control grids of the tubes Al and B! are each connected through a bias resistor 22 to the -100 volts line 28 and the control grids of the tubes C2 and D2 are each connected through a bias resistor 2'! to the line 28. The control grids of the tubes A2 and B2 are each connected through a bias resistor 2'! to the cancel bias line 23 and the control grids of the tubes Cl and DI ar each connected through a bias resistor 22 to the line 23. Also the lead 39 is connected between the plate of the tube Cl and the control grid of the tube I so that tube 50 will be cyclically controlled by the voltage at the plate of the tube CI instead of that at the plate of the tube C2 as in Fig. 1. From these connections and the description relative to Fig. 1, it is readily seen that the triggers A and B are in the on condition and the triggers C and D ar in the OE condition in the starting or zero condition of the counter.

Description of the operation of the counter during one cycle of operation will be undertaken, in connection with Figs. 2 and 2a jointly.

When the counter is in the zero or starting condittion, ready to receive the first input pulse, the triggers A and B are on, the triggers C and D are off, the tube I 0 conductive and the tubes H and I2 non-conductive.

The first negative pulse applied to the input terminal 30 switches the trigger A oif. This switching of the trigger A causes the trigger B to switch off and the switching of the trigger B causes the trigger C to switch on. This normal binary operation is continued through receipt of the fourth pulse as is indicated in Fig. 2d, when triggers A, B and C are on and trigger D is Mofil! The fifth negative pulse applied to the input terminal 30 switches the trigger A off. The switching of the trigger A causes the trigger B to switch off and the switching of the trigger 13 causes the trigger C to switch oil. The switching of the trigger C causes the trigger D to switch on. When the trigger D switches on, a positive pulse is transferred through the lead 36 to the output terminal 3?. The switching of the trigger C causes, also, a negative pulse to be transferred to the control grid of the conducting tube it and renders it non-conductive. As described in connection with l, the tubes I l and [2 are rendered conductive and switch the triggers A and B to the on condition. When the effect of the negative pulse on the control grid of the tube Hi has ended, it again becomes conductive and the tubes I! and I2 become non-conductive.

The six through the ninth pulses to be counted cause normal binary operation of the counter as indicated in Fig. 2a. After the ninth pulse. triggers A, B, C and D are all on.

The tenth pulse applied to the input terminal 38 switches the trigger A off and the switching of the trigger A. causes the trigger B to switch off. The switching of the trigger 5 causes the trigger C to switch off. The switching of the trigger C causes the trigger D to switch off and a negative pulse to be transferred over the lead 355 to the output terminal 5?. The switching of the trigger C causes, also, a negative pulse to be transferred to the control grid of the conductive tube to render it non-conductive. The tubes H and 12 are then rendered conductive to switch the triggers A and B on. The tube it then becomes conductive and the tubes 1! and i2 non-conductive and the trigger circuits and all other tubes are returned to the zero or starting condition and the counter is ready for another cycle of operation.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 3a, it is seen that initially the triggers A, B, C, and D are off, the tube Ii! conductive, and the tubes H and i2 non-conductive in this embodiment. Accordingly, the triggers and tubes are in the same zero or starting condition as those of Fig. 1. However, in Fig. 3 as compared with Fig. 1, the lead 39 for transferring a negative pulse to the control grid of the tube it is connected to the plate of the tube D2 instead of the plate of the tube C2 and the cathodes of the tubes H and [2 are connected, respectively, to the control grids of the tubes C2 and B2 instead of to the control grids of the tubes B2 and A2.

The application of the first seven pulses to be counted, to the terminal 3% in Fig. 3, causes normal binary operation as indicated in Fig. 3d, at the end of which triggers A, B and C are on and trigger D is off.

The eighth negative pulse applied to the terminal 3Q switches the trigger A off and the switching of the trigger A causes the trigger B to switch oiT. The switching of the trigger B causes the trigger C to switch off and the switching of the trigger C causes the trigger D to switch on. When the trigger D switches on a negative pulse is transferred from the plate of the tube D2 to the control grid of the conductive tube It to render it non-conductive.

that shown in Fig. 3.

This renders the tubes H and I2 conductive -.which.causes the voltage at the control grids not the tubes BI and CI to increase and the triggers B and C to switch on. Then, when the effect of the negative pulse on the control grid of the tube It] has ended, the tube ll) be- .comes conductive and the tubes H and [2 become non-conductive.

The ninth pulse applied to the terminal 30 switches the trigger A on.

The tenth pulse applied to the terminal 30 The switching of the trigger B causes the the trigger C causes the trigger D to switch off thereby placing the counter in the zero or starting condition and providing a negative pulse at the output terminal 3?.

It should be noted that this counter converts from binary to decade counting in a single operation by artificially adding six counts into the counter While retaining all of the advantages of the counters of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Fig. 4, the counter of this embodiment comprises the same components as However, the control grids of the tubes BI and Cl are connected through the resistors 22 to the 100 volt line 28 and the control grids of the tubes B2 and C2 are connected through the resistors 21 to the cancel bias line 23. Also, the lead 39 is connected to i the plate of the tube DI and the control grid the triggers A and D are off, the triggers B and C are on, the tube It conductive, and the,

tubes II and i2 non-conductive.

The first nine pulses applied to the input terminal 30 causes the counter to operate in normal binary fashion after which triggers A, B, C and 'D are all on.

The tenth pulse applied to the terminal 30 switches the trigger A off and the switching of the trigger A causes the trigger B to switch off which in turn causes the trigger C to switch off. The switching of the trigger C causes the trigger D to switch ofi causing a negative pulse to be transferred from the plate of the tube DI to the control grid of the tube H] to render it non-conductive. Accordingly,

the tubes H and I2 are rendered conductive' and cause the triggers B and C to switch on."

When the effect of the negative pulse applied 'to the control grid of the tube Ill has ended it again becomes conductive and renders the tubes H and I2 non-conductive to place the counter in the zero or initial starting condition and .the counter is ready for another cycle of operation.

- Inall the novel embodiments the tube is rendered non-conductive in response to the nor- ;mal voltage change of the trigger to which its control grid is capacitively coupled and thereafter, without any dependence on the voltage relationships of the trigger circuits of the counter, effects av change in the stable condition of the counter.

,switchinghas a magnitude determined by the tubes III, II and i2, the circuit components as- The positive pulse afiecting this sociated therewith, and the voltage on the lines I6 and 23. Obviously, this pulse magnitude is completely independent of the pulses to be counted and the voltage relationships produced in the counter in response thereto. The actual conversion of the counter to decade operation is accomplished by switching the stable condition of triggers which have already completed their response to a pulse to be counted which i utilized to initiate the conversion operation. This means that there is no probability of the conversion operation interfering with the normal response of the triggers to the pulses to be counted.

In addition the circuit arrangements shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the tube i0 is rendered nonconductive and the triggers switched by the conduction of the tubes ii and I! after the counter has performed all of its normal operations in response to a particular pulse to be counted.

This novel arrangement for converting to decade operation is more fully utilized by the counter of Fig. 4 in that the conversion is accomplished after each tenth pulse to be counted is manifested at the output terminal. Hence, the counter operates in normal binary fashion in response to all ten pulses to be counted, thereby eliminating any possibility of interference with counter operation from the attempted conversion to decade operation.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic counter of the decade type including four trigger circuits each having two conditions of stability alternately assumed, said triggers being connected in a series chain; a source of negative pulses to be counted and a connection therefrom to the first of said triggers; an output connection from the fourth of said triggers for transferring a negative pulse therefrom in response to each tenth pulse from said source; circuit means for placing the counter in a preselected starting condition; a grid controlled tube normally conductive; a connection from the third trigger to the control grid of said grid controlled tube for rendering the latter tube non-conductive when the trigger switches from one stable condition to the other; a pair of tubes each having its cathode connected to a different one of said triggers other than the third and said tubes having their plates connected to the plate of said grid controlled tube, said tubes being rendered conductive when said grid controlled tube is rendered non-conductive to raise the voltage at the triggers connected to their respective cathodes to switch the stable condition of those triggers.

2. An electronic counter including a plurality of counting elements connected in a series chain for response to a certain number of input pulses to complete a counting cycle of operation, each counting element having two stable conditions alternately assumed and being connected as a necessary counting element to actuate the counter through a cycle of normal operation, each said element, except the last in the chain,

when switched to one ships of said: elements, to efiect said cycle of operation when said counter responds to less than said-certain number of input pulses; said means including an electron tube non-responsive to substantially constant voltages at said one element but responsive to a voltage change there-,,

at caused byythenormal switching of said one element to only its stable condition which has plingsaid electron tube to at least one other of W said counting elements to transfer a voltage to said other element. to produce artificial counts in said counter when said electron tube is responsive to said voltage change.

3. In a decade counter having four binary trigger circuits connected in a series chain with each trigger having two grid controlled tubes and two stableconditions alternately assumed; a source of pulses to be counted and means for applying the pulses to the control grids of the tubes of the first trigger to efiect a switching of the triggers in regular binary fashion; means for placing the triggers in a preselected starting condition and continuously responsive tube means for adding an artificial count of three to the cycle of counter operation twice during each said cycle, said means being effective on said trigger circuits then unafiected by pulses to be counted and 'including a' tube normally conductive, a coupling between the third trigger and said tube for'rendering the latter temporarily non-conductive in response to a switching of the third trigger to onestable condition, two tubes rendered nonconductive and conductive respectively by said tube'andnormally conductive when it is conductive and non-conductive respectively, a connection from one of said two tubes to the'control grid of-one tube of the first trigger and a connectionfrom the other to the control grid of one tube of the second trigger, said'connection permitting said two tubes when conductive to apply a positive-voltage to the first and second triggers to switch the stable conditionthereof to add a count of three to the cycle of counter operation.

4. In a decade counter having four binary trigger circuitsconnected in a series chain with each trigger having two grid controlled tubes and two stable conditions alternately assumed; a source of pulses to be counted and means 'for applying the pulses'to the control grids of the tubes of the first trigger to effect a switchingof the triggers in regular binary fashion; means for placing the trigger in a preselected starting condition and continuously responsive tube means for adding an artificial count of siX to the cycle of counter operation once during each said cycle, said means being effective on said counter after it has responded normally to a pulse to be counted and including a tube normally conductive, a capacitive connection from the second tube ofthe fourth trigger to said tube normally conductive for rendering the latter temporarily nonconductive in response to a switching of the fourth trigger to one stable condition, two tubes having their plates connected to the plate of said tube and normally 'conductiveand rendered nonconductive and conductive respectively when the latter tube is conductive and non-conductive respectively, a connection from the cathode of one of said two tubes to the control grid of the second tube of the'second trigger and a connection from the second tubes of the second and third triggers to render them non-conductive and thereby switch the stable condition of the second and third triggers to add a count of six to the cycle of counter operation.

.5. In .a decade counter having four trigger circuits connected, in a series' chain with each trigger having two gridcontrolled tubes and two stable conditions alternately assumed; a source of pulses to be counted and means for applying the pulses to thecontrol grids of the tubes of the first trigger to effect a switching of the triggers in regular binar fashion; means for placing the triggers in a preselected starting condition and continuously responsive tube means for addingv an artificial count, of six to the cycle of counter operationonce during each said cycle, said means being efiective on said counter after it has responded normally to, tenpulses to, be counted and including a grid controlled tube normally conductive, a capacitive connection from the first tube of the fourth trigger and said grid controlled tube. for rendering the, latter, temporarily non-conductive in response to aswitching of the fourth trigger in response to each tenth pulse to be counted,,two tubeshaving their plates connected to the plateof said grid controlled tube and normally conductive and rendered nonconductive and conductive respectively when the latter, tube is conductive and non-conductive respectively, a connection from the cathode of one of said two tubes to the control grid of the second tube of the second trigger'and a connection from the cathode of the other to the control grid of the second tube of the third trigger, said connection permitting said two tubes when conductive to apply a positive voltage to. the control grids of the second tubes of the second and third triggers to render themnon-conductive and thereby switch the stable condition of the triggers to add a count of siX to the cycle; of counteroperation. in response to each tenth pulse to be counted. 7 n ARTHUR H. DICKINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent: 7.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number -Name Date 2,272,070 Reeves Feb. 3, ,1942 2,390,608 Miller et a1 Dec. 11, 1945 2,405,930 Goldberg .etal. Aug. 13, ,1946 2,410,156 Flory Oct... 29, 1946 2,418,538 Yetter Apr. '8, 1947 2,516,146 Prugh July 25, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES RCA Review,'September 1946, V01. VII, No. 3, Electronic Counters by Grosdofflpages 438-447. Electronics, February 1948, Predetermined 

